Station-indicator



(No Model J. I. IRVING. STATION INDICATOR.

No. 393,706. Pat-enfed Nov. 27, I888..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASON I. IRVING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STATION- INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393. 06, dated November8.

Application filed February 27, 1888. Serial No. 265,509. (No model.)

Railway-Oars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being hadto the drawings that form part ofthis specificatioa- My inventionrelates to improvements in street or station indicators for railwaycars,

. and it embraces a certain novelconstruction and combination of partsand mechanism, as hereinafter fully described, and the production of anindicator that is capable of containing a considerable number ofname-bearing cards or plates in small compass and of exposing to viewboth sides of each plate in such manner that the two surfaces of a platecan be utilized, if desired. In addition to this my improvements havefor their object to simplify the operating mechanism of suchindicator-boxes.

The following description explains the nature of these improvements andthe manner in which I have constructed, combined, and applied the samein carrying out my invention, the accompanying drawings being referredto by figures and letters.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of the indicatorcomplete. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken transversely through the caseor box at the vertical line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar sectiontaken at the line Y Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section takenhorizontally through the box at the line Z Z, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows oneof the plates detached from the drum or carrying-cylinder, and Fig. 6 isa longitudinal section taken through the middle of the cylinder. Figs. 7and 7 are inside and outside views, respectively, of the sliding boxesthat carry thejournals of the cylinder; and Fig. 7"is a cross-sectionthrough Fig. 7, taken at the line X Y, Fig. 7. Fig. 8 represents thelever and dog that rotate the cylinder.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figuresof the drawings.

A represents a suitable case or box, the dimensions of which areproportioned to the length and breadth of the cards or plates that carrythe names or matter to be displayed, so that the opening in the front ofthe box shall be of suitable size to expose to view the faces of twoplates, one above the other, the axis of the cylinder that carries theplates being set about midway of the opening. The width of the openingis somewhat greater than the length of the plate to allow the plates todrop forward and turn on their hinges by gravity.

B B are the plates, and 0 O 0 D the parts composing the drum or cylinderto which the plates are attached by hinge-joints at one side and in suchmanner that the other ends of the plates are left free to be acted uponby the rotation of the cylinder and the force of gravity.

0 0* are two cylindrical heads fixed on a shaft, D, at the ends thereof,but leaving suitable journal portions beyond; and O is a similar headfixed on the shaft about midway between the others.

E E are wires or rods of small diameter set in close and parallel orderthrough holes in the heads and fitted loosely in place, so that they canbe drawn out. They are arranged to be drawn out from the right-hand endof the cylinder, and to prevent them from working out of the left-handhead a cap, D with arecess of suitable diameter to take in the head, isslipped on the end of the shaft. The rods take-through knuckles B B onthe plates B and form pintles for the plates to turn on.

The front of the cylinder is set about in line 8 with or is tangent tothe back line of the caseopening, and in such position also with respectto the top edge of the opening that the distance vertically from the rimof the cylinder, where the horizontal diameter, if drawn, would passthrough it, to the edge a of the opening is somewhat less than thedistance from the hinge standing on that line up to the top edge of theplate, so that the edge of the case-opening shall act as a stop to holdthe plate standing in such position and prevent it from falling forward.The relative position of these parts is seen in Fig. 2. It will benoticed that the plate thus standing at the opening is thrown slightlyforward at the top. This is done to I00 keep the plate upright duringits exposure. and to prevent it from beingthrown backward by the motionsor jar of the car during its travel.

Rotation of the cylinder in a forward direction has the effect to drawdown the plate until its top edge clears the edge of the opening, whenthe released plate will drop forward and turn over by gravity. In thismovement the plate is reversed or its other surface is presented to thefront and is exposed to view through that portion of tlieopening belowthe center. The length ofeaeh rotativc movement of the cylinder issufficient to release the front or leading plate of those above theaxis, but not to let more than one plate at a time drop forward throughthe opening. Such movement of the cylinder is produced by a vibratingdog, G, and ratchet-teeth H, which are formed for the purpose on the rimof the head C. The dog is loosely pivoted on the end of a lever, I, andworks loosely through a staple. K, on the inner side of the case. asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The locking-pawl I1 is placed over thecylinder to prevent backward motion, as the greater weight is on therear side of the axis.

The lever I is pivoted in the bracket M on the outside of the ease, andits outer end is suitably connected to a hand-lever or an operating-rod,if the indicator is intended to be worked by hand, or to the automaticmechanism which may be employed to work it. The upstroke of the outerend of the lever turns the cylinder the distance of one tooth, and thismovement is sufficient to release the edge of the foremost plate fromthe top edge of the opening.

The slidingjournatboxes I are let into the front of the case at the sideof the opening, and are readily drawn out to remove the cylinder forpurposes of cleaning or repairing or to change or adjust the plates.

The box has a dovetail rib, I, that slides into a groove ofcorresponding form in the case, and also a hole, I, to take the end ofthe shaft 1). 3y drawing out both boxes from the grooves all the partswith the exception of the vibrating dog are easil removed from the case.

The boxes are held in place by the hooks R and pins or hasps on thesides of the case. These form a simple means for holding the boxes; butother locking devices could housed in their place.

As thus constructed and operated, itwill be seen that a considerablenumber of cards or plates can be arranged in close compact manner, sothat a case of comparatively small size will contain a large number ofsigns or namebearing plates; also, that both faces of the plates can beutilized. In such case two plates are shown at the same time through theopening, and while one displays the name of the street or station theother plate can be used to display additional names or other matter forthe benefit or instruction of passengers.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In combination, the case A, having grooves for the sliding boxes P I theboxes I removable from the front thereof and having bearings for thejournals of the cylinder, and an opening in the case-front of suitablesize to allow the cylinder to be Withdrawn from the case, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

JASON I. IRVING. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

G. \V. M. SMITH, R. H. PEAT.

